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Sniffer Cats at Customs

Sniffer Cats at Customs


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Sniffer Cats at Customs

At a London customs office, two cats on the payroll at 3d a day, to detect smuggled goods

Mary Evans Picture Library makes available wonderful images created for people to enjoy over the centuries

Media ID 610913

© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10119792

Baggage Cats Crime Detect Goods Off Ice Searching Smuggled Smugglers Sniffer 1935 Payroll


EDITORS COMMENTS
In this intriguing photograph from the annals of customs history, two feline detectives diligently search for hidden contraband among the piles of luggage at a bustling London customs office in the 1930s. The cats, both members of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise Service, were employed on a modest payroll of threepence a day to use their acute senses to detect smuggled goods. The use of cats as sniffer animals in customs offices dates back to ancient Egypt, where felines were revered for their keen sense of smell. However, it was not until the late 19th and early 20th centuries that the practice gained widespread popularity in Europe and North America. The cats were often housed in specially designed enclosures near the baggage inspection areas, where they could easily detect the scent of smuggled goods. Their keen sense of smell allowed them to detect a wide range of contraband, from foodstuffs like tea, coffee, and tobacco, to more illicit items such as drugs and weapons. The cats were particularly effective at detecting smuggled foodstuffs, as their sense of smell was far more acute than that of humans. Despite their popularity, the use of cats as customs detectives was not without controversy. Critics argued that the cats were not reliable and could be easily bribed or distracted. However, their supporters maintained that the cats were an essential tool in the fight against smuggling and that their presence deterred many would-be smugglers. This photograph captures a moment in time when these extraordinary animals played a vital role in the enforcement of customs regulations, adding an intriguing chapter to the history of customs and crime. The two cats in the photograph, with their intense focus and determined expressions, remind us of the important role that animals have played in the detection of smuggled goods throughout history.

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